But as the 37-year-old safety stared at the phone this spring, he also knew he wasn't ready for it. His concerns were pushed aside when the Raiders called in late March to offer him a second one-year contract.

"It dragged on a little longer than I wanted it to in the offseason," Woodson said. "I was getting a little bit nervous sitting at home, trying to figure out what was going to happen because the reality was, if it didn't happen here, that could have been it."

Woodson, who originally was with the Raiders from 1998 through 2005 before winning a Super Bowl with the Packers, turns 38 early this season and didn't receive calls from any other teams.

"My heart was set on coming back here," Woodson said. "If that didn't happen, then I would have had to weigh those options whether or not something else could turn up."

The Raiders had to make some other moves before re-signing Woodson. He can appreciate that on days like Monday, he watched grizzled newcomers Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley bark instructions at younger players. On the other side of the ball, quarterback Matt Schaub and running back Maurice Jones-Drew are determined to prove they can be Pro Bowl players again.

"We're trying to bust through the ceiling," Woodson said. "I look at the team, and I feel like I have what I need from a team standpoint to get all the way there."

Super Bowl talk from a 4-12 team might be a little ridiculous, but Woodson does have a historical comparison. The Raiders last appeared in a Super Bowl after the 2002 season (a 48-21 loss to the Buccaneers). That team similarly had players once thought to be "washed up" such as Rich Gannon, Rod Woodson and Jerry Rice who helped young players.

"I see a lot of similarities," Woodson said.

Shiny, fast players are great, but Woodson said experience is underrated.

"I think the Spurs were undervalued," he said. "They have an older team, but they're playing for the whole thing again ... Every team (in the NFL) wants to get younger. They push a lot of the older guys out; guys that can still play the game.

"It's going to be our job, especially guys like myself, Woodley and Tuck, to show that our best days are not behind us just because other people say our best days are behind us. We're going out there to play good football and win games."

Woodson played in all 16 games last season for the first time since 2010. He had 97 tackles, two sacks, one interception and plenty of mental snapshots.

"I think every year you stop and smell the roses once you get past a certain point," Woodson said. "But I'm looking at the team, and just going off how I feel health-wise, I'm not looking at this being the last year.

"Of course, I'm going to enjoy every moment of it at the same time, because like I said, you never know how it's going to turn out. ... We're going to be a good team. If that means playing this year and beyond, then of course, I'd be open to it."